Plus, a lot seems to be happening in the NFL, with trades and uniforms changes (a little more on that later), the release of the schedules, and the upcoming draft.
So, I figured, it's time to start talking sports again. Let's go:
NBA
The first round of the NBA playoffs continue, and there has been some excitement already. I watched the end of the Clippers game the other night, and marveled at Chris Paul's buzzer beating shot for a Clippers win, which puts them comfortably ahead (for the moment) with a 2-0 series lead.
The Knicks also got their 2-0 series lead, but they didn't need a miracle, last second shot to do it. They routed the Boston Celtics, who look like a reeling team on the ropes. Not surprisingly, the Heat also seem in command in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks, soundly beating them in the first two games.
But not every series has a team on the ropes. The Golden State Warriors ripped the Denver Nuggets last night, tying that series at 1-1. The next two games are at home for the Warriors. Ditto with the Bulls, who managed to upend the Brooklyn Nets in Game 2 a couple of nights ago.
Tonight, the Oklahoma Thunder, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs each try to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their series. The Thunder take on the Houston Rockets, the Pacers take on the Atlanta Hawks, and the Spurs take on the Los Angeles Lakers, sans Kobe.
NHL
Despite losing yesterday, the New York Islanders managed to clinch the playoffs in the East, which leaves only the final two spots open. Right now, the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers hold those spots, with only the Winnipeg Jets pursuing them. But here's the thing: the Jets have 51 points with only one game left in their schedule, while both the Rangers and the Senators have 52 points, each with multiple games. That does not mean that they have automatically qualified, although it does make it very hard to see how the Jets can possibly close the gap. Obviously, it would help tremendously if they won, but they do not control their own destiny, and would need either the Rangers or the Senators to lose out their remaining games.
Not impossible, and stranger things have happened, I guess. But still, most likely, Ottawa and New York are headed to the playoffs.
Things are a bit more complicated right now in the West, where the ninth seed, rather surprisingly, is the Detroit Red Wings. That's right: the NHL's model franchise since the mid-nineties, with more Stanley Cup Finals appearances and wins than any other team during that period, and a perennial contender, look like they very well just might miss the postseason, for the first time in a long time! However, they have three games left on their schedule, and with 50 points, they are only one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are desperately clinging to that eight and final spot at the moment. Columbus has 51 points, but only two games remaining. Unlike the Jets in the East, it seems that the Detroit Red Wings actually do control their own destiny -at least for now. If they win out, no matter what Columbus theoretically does the rest of the way, it would mean the Red Wings, and not the Blue Jackets, would get the nod.
The seventh seed in the West would be the Minnesota Wild, who had a busy offseason and picked up some considerable talent. With 53 points and two games remaining, the likelihood is that their qualifying is just a technicality. It is hard to imagine them not making the playoffs this season.
As for positioning for top seeds within the divisions, both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks have clinched the number one seed in their respective conferences. Both also have hoisted the Stanley Cup relatively recently, with the Penguins having done so in 2009, and the Blackhawks having done so in 2010. Anaheim has clinched the second spot in the West, while the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens are fighting for that second spot, and their division titles, in the East. They both presently have 59 points, but the Bruins have three games left to play, while the Canadiens have only two. Washington and Vancouver have clinched the third seeds, respectively.
NFL
The New York Jets finally managed to get rid of Revis. Some feel that they got the short end of the stick, however. Tampa picked up Revis, and gave up a couple of draft picks -their first and third. That gives the Jets the 13th pick overall, and possibly a third rounder. I am not entirely sure that they did the right thing. But then again, Revis had been a perennial headache for a few seasons now. He is not a guarantee at all, including for the Tampa Bay Bucs. So, I guess the Jets just felt it best to willingly give that headache over to Tampa Bay, and let them deal with Revis. New York is in rebuilding mode, and nobody is expecting a Super Bowl season out of them this season - this even includes their swaggering head coach, Rex Ryan! It appears that his perennial predictions of Super Bowl glory for his Jets has been tempered - at least for now. But let's see how the Jets do with the extra draft picks.
Speaking of the draft, it is coming up really soon. I am not usually one of those people that follows it very closely, watching for every single move. In fact, it might be more accurate to say that I have never watched the draft, and only follow the headlines afterwards, when something really stands out. Sorry, no inside tips or predictions from me!
The Jacksonville Jaguars followed their interstate rivals, the Miami Dolphins, by changing their uniforms. Usually, I prefer the old-fashioned uniforms to the new looks. That said, the Jaguars are a new team, established in 1995. I personally remember the days of the NFL when no such team existed. The Jacksonville Jaguars got off to a hot start, not only making the playoffs in their second season, but winning two road games to qualify for the AFC Championship Game, which they lost, 20-6, to the New England Patriots (who themselves lost to the Packers in Super Bowl XXXI). The Jaguars would make the AFC Championship Game again, hosting the Tennessee Titans, but losing 33-14. The Titans played a great game in the Super Bowl, and famously, came up a yard short of the tying touchdown to force overtime, thus giving the offensive juggernauts, the St. Louis Rams, their first ever Super Bowl title. The funny thing about the Jaguars that season was that they seemed truly elite. They were 14-2 in the regular season, and 1-1 in the playoffs. The only team that managed to defeat the Jaguars, however, were those Titans, who swept them during the regular season, and then defeated them in the AFC title game, thus completing the rare, three-game "sweep".
But that is about it for their history. Since those promising early days, the Jaguars have cooled off considerably, with much more modest accomplishments. They are one of only four franchises left never to have qualified for the Super Bowl, and have been perennial losers for a number of years now. Last season, they were among the worst teams in the league.
So, they are trying to change their fortunes, and they are beginning with the uniforms, which were admittedly drab and boring. I am not entirely sure that these are much better, but at least they are trying, right? Take a look for yourself, by clicking on this link, an article "NFL's Jaguars unveil new uniforms, 2-tone helmets" by the Associated Press that I found on www.heraldnet.com:
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130423/SPORTS/130429931
Soccer
Now, here's a headlines you don't see everyday: Barcelona is completely picked apart, and loses horribly, 4-0.
But that is exactly what happened When legendary club Barcelona traveled up to Bavaria to take on Bayern Munich.
Even though Bayern Munich is a legendary club in their own right, you just very rarely hear about a club of Barcelona's stature getting their butts handed to them so thoroughly!
Cycling
The government is now going after Lance Armstrong, arguing, essentially, that Armstrong defrauded the US Postal Service with the money received from endorsements. The money is in the millions.
Already having been stripped of his record seven Tour de France titles (nobody is calling it the Tour de Lance anymore, are they?), they are going after his money, now. Perhaps even in sports, we are reaching an area where crimes doesn't pay?
One thing for sure: Lance's arrogance in the past has rubbed people the wrong way in the present, and people have proven not to be forgiving, now that they hold the upper hand. Lance really seems to be fighting a losing battle on all fronts now.
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